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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following the Big Ten schedule announcement live on Big Ten Network Thursday, the 2024-25 Illinois women’s basketball schedule is complete. The Fighting Illini revealed the third non-conference slate under head coach Shauna Green on Sept. 9.
SCHEDULE NOTES
IlIinois is scheduled for an 18-game conference schedule with nine home games and nine on the road.
This season marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the league will play an 18-game women’s basketball schedule, and the 23rd time overall since 1982-83.
Nine current Big Ten squads appeared in the 2023-24 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Iowa (NCAA Runner-Up), USC (Elite Eight), UCLA (Sweet 16), Indiana (Sweet 16), Nebraska (Second Round), Ohio State (Second Round), Michigan State (First Round), Maryland (First Round), and Michigan (First Round).
Illinois will play nine league games against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Illini will face off against just one team twice during the regular season: Northwestern.
Illinois will host Oregon and Washington this season while heading west to visit USC and UCLA in those four programs’ first year in the Big Ten.
Weekend conference games inside State Farm Center include Oregon (Saturday, Dec. 28), Michigan State (Sunday, Jan. 19), Nebraska (Sunday, Feb. 16), and Michigan (Sunday, March 2).
The Illini will play nine weekday conference games, including five at home inside State Farm Center.
Illinois will play one league game on a Monday when Purdue visits on Jan. 27. The Orange and Blue will also host Washington for a Tuesday, Dec. 31, matchup.
The Illini open conference play on the road at Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 8, before concluding the remaining portion of its non-conference schedule.
Illinois’ regular-season finale is Sunday, March 2, at home versus Michigan.
The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled for March 5-9 in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Illinois women’s basketball season are on sale now with new seating options available. Illinois is entering Year 3 under head coach Shauna Green and has compiled a 24-8 record at home over the last two seasons, including two upsets of AP top-15 ranked teams: No. 12 Iowa (1/1/23) and No. 14 Indiana (2/19/24).
In two years under Green, the Illinois women’s basketball team has registered 41 wins, the first postseason championship in program history (2024 WBIT), and back-to-back top-5 season attendances in State Farm Center.
The Fighting Illini are coming off winning the inaugural WBIT championship last season and securing a 19-15 record, including five straight wins to close the campaign. Illinois returns a core that includes four of last year’s starters, more than 81% of minutes played, and nearly 85% of scoring.
